Dr. Cynthia Gray named Dean of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences at FDTC
Florence-Darlington Tech (FDTC) is pleased to announce that Cynthia Gray, Ed.D., has been named the Dean of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences.
As Dean, she will lead the colleges Nursing and Allied Health programs that include: Associate Degree Nursing, Practical Nursing, Respiratory Care, Radiologic Technology, Surgical Technology, Medical Laboratory Technology, Dental Hygiene, and Expanded Duty Dental Assisting.
“I am thrilled to serve as Dean of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences at Florence-Darlington Tech,” Gray said. “FDTC has a wonderful culture for learning, one that empowers students and faculty alike to grow and excel. My goal is to build on that foundation so we can provide the communities we serve with the very best healthcare professionals.”
Gray steps into the permanent role after serving as Interim Dean for the past year. She previously served as the Director of Programs for Corporate and Workforce Development before taking over the interim role. As Interim Dean, she restructured division leadership from a single-dean model to a Dean and Associate Dean structure to strengthen oversight and support across the college’s Nursing and Allied Health Programs.
“Our Nursing and Allied Health programs are at the core of what we do here at FDTC,” FDTC Interim President Dr. Debbie Cheek said. “Our healthcare partners rely on us to prepare highly skilled professionals for a demanding field, and we are confident that Dr. Gray will lead these programs to new heights.”
A seasoned leader with more than 14 years of experience in the South Carolina Technical College System, Gray brings a unique combination of clinical expertise and academic administration to her role. She is a Certified Surgical Technologist and holds a Diploma in Applied Science in Surgical Technology from the Technical College of the Lowcountry, grounding her leadership in direct clinical experience.
Before joining FDTC, Gray served as Healthcare Program Director at Spartanburg Community College, where she created the Esthetics program and its accompanying retail salon and spa, managed healthcare and wellness offerings serving more than 350 students annually, and more than doubled enrollment in the CNA, Patient Care Technician, EKG, and Phlebotomy programs. She also held leadership and instructional roles at the Technical College of the Lowcountry, where she strengthened the quality of the Surgical Technology program, expanded clinical partnerships, and significantly grew its Continuing Education healthcare offerings.
Gray has a strong track record of designing and scaling healthcare training programs, building pathways for transition between non-credit and credit programs, and strengthening community partnerships that connect education to workforce needs.
She holds a Doctor of Education in Higher Education Leadership from Northcentral University, a Master of Arts in Business from Webster University, a Master of Education in Counseling from the University of Georgia, and a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Georgia.
An active contributor to statewide initiatives, Gray serves on the SC Rural Telehealth Workforce Advisory Council and the SC Deans and Directors Committee and has served as President of the Continuing Education Healthcare Directors Peer Group. Her professional memberships include the South Carolina Technical Education Association, the Association of Surgical Technologists, and the National Society of Leadership and Success.